In addition to the 8 e-filing returns provided, 6 additional returns are available for test scenarios. The available returns are as follows:

400-00-6001

400-00-6002

400-00-6003

400-00-6004

400-00-6005

400-00-6006

Use of these returns for training purposes is described online at Drake Support (Training Tools > Practice Returns > Returns).

E-Filing Practice Returns.

Drake recommends that you transmit at least one of the e-filing practice returns as a test to make sure you have a working connection. A test transmission is not required, but it may help you eliminate difficulties before you begin to transmit live.

At the Drake Support practice returns page (above), click e-Filing Practice Instructions to see instructions for electronic filing practice returns. The instructions describe how to prepare and e-file the returns, how to view acknowledgements and how to correct issues in the return that cause e-filing rejection. These returns are not live and do not go beyond Drake - transmissions are between you and the Drake servers for e-filing practice.

Practice Return Scenarios

At the Drake Support practice returns page (above), click Practice Return Instructions to see general instructions for entering the thirteen practice return scenarios listed on the page. These returns are for your data entry practice and cannot be e-filed. Each of the thirteen practice or test returns, and each solution, is described in a PDF document that you can download.

PPR Users

When you try to open a test return with a prior-year test return number that is not in Drake Tax, the software must either update from the previous year (if the return exists there) or create a new return, either of which is chargeable against your activated PPRs. Entering any of the SSNs in the practice return scenarios will require you to redeem a banked PPR return. You cannot create a practice or test return by entering a 40000 or 50000 series number without redeeming a PPR return. For data entry practice with these scenarios, use an existing 50000 series test return. You can change the name in an existing test return or the file type without redeeming another return, and you can use Archive Manager to swap out the original test return and various data entry scenarios.